13/3/2011 odometer start:7938, Day#: 16
Passage: Penonomé to Playa Gorgona
Dist: 77, Time: 4, Av. Speed: 18.59, Total kms: 9072
Weather: fine, clear 30 deg, Wind: moderate NETerrain: plano con colinas pequeñas
Having a great sleep, having made sure the A/C was not to low, the road was entered about 0800. Being psyched up for the big climb, hurrying was not part of the deal.
Anyway 25 k down the road, where is that hill, not even hills were visible ahead, “how good is this” was a thought that was pondered.
So that photo of that highway must have indeed been a road to the north, lucky me.
Stopping for a coffee and a snack, having a chat with a couple of guys about Panama City and the southern beaches, one of them on their departure called me to their car, turned out he was a rep for Baru Panama cerveza. He was kindly wrapping a couple of labelled glasses for me. Embarrassingly short on vocab, trying to explain they were to heavy, was ok but trying to show my full gratitude at his kindness was a bit trickier. Though he fully understood.
It reminds me of a guy in Crosby last year who being a fossicker offered me a piece of rock to take. It was easy to convey the necessary feelings and reasoning in my native tongue.
A melon was enjoyed some miles further on.
The highway was all freeway with a good shoulder harbouring little debris.
There are many playas on the coast south of Penonomé, most are very commercial and touristic. A quiet beach was wanted. People were asked about such a beach, in the south the first beach Playa Farallón and in the north, Playa Gorgona. This northern beach was chosen.
Heading off the highway, the quiet road was followed till it turned into gravel. A couple of new condo type developments were in progress, later being told they had been broke a couple of times, each disaster providing a new owner.
Reaching the row of beach front lots and houses about 1400 it was indeed a low key affair, calling out to a guy in his yard behind gates of a house right on the beach, he came to the gate, slid it open and we introduced ourselves. Also introducing me to a Panamanian guy Bébo.
We all immediately got on, John was a character to say the least. Anyway we had a good yarn about stuff and they said stay here.
So the afternoon was spent swimming, drinking much Barcardi, relaxing in hammocks, eating and listening to the best music on a couple of speakers that you wouldn’t fit in a pickup. They were operating at the upper end of their volume people walking past on the beach were enjoying it as much as we were.
We partied on into the night. Each finding a lounge to crash on at some hour.
Such a good way to celebrate prior to reaching Panama City. Though more important was the great company, Bébo looked after the place when John was up in PC.
Johns house is on the Gorgona beach, which to the south some 3 k is Playa Coronado, a heavily urbanised tourist set up with high rise. To the south we drove down the beach to a river where guys were surfing and fishing.
All afternoon sea birds were diving for fish almost on the shore, in each group was a bunch of frigate birds who would harass the other birds who had caught fish in the hope they would drop them out of fear, which happened on many occassions.
Nearing dusk dozens of fisherman, (pescadores) in fibreglass workboats were heading past the house just behind the waves for the nights fishing with nets. I think they probably heard the music to.
The strong offshore wind made for flat conditions, interestingly here the water was cold compared to Las Lajas, a current thing maybe. It was as cold as Sapphire beach at Xmas time.
Passage: Penonomé to Playa Gorgona
Dist: 77, Time: 4, Av. Speed: 18.59, Total kms: 9072
Weather: fine, clear 30 deg, Wind: moderate NETerrain: plano con colinas pequeñas
Having a great sleep, having made sure the A/C was not to low, the road was entered about 0800. Being psyched up for the big climb, hurrying was not part of the deal.
Anyway 25 k down the road, where is that hill, not even hills were visible ahead, “how good is this” was a thought that was pondered.
So that photo of that highway must have indeed been a road to the north, lucky me.
Stopping for a coffee and a snack, having a chat with a couple of guys about Panama City and the southern beaches, one of them on their departure called me to their car, turned out he was a rep for Baru Panama cerveza. He was kindly wrapping a couple of labelled glasses for me. Embarrassingly short on vocab, trying to explain they were to heavy, was ok but trying to show my full gratitude at his kindness was a bit trickier. Though he fully understood.
It reminds me of a guy in Crosby last year who being a fossicker offered me a piece of rock to take. It was easy to convey the necessary feelings and reasoning in my native tongue.
A melon was enjoyed some miles further on.
The highway was all freeway with a good shoulder harbouring little debris.
There are many playas on the coast south of Penonomé, most are very commercial and touristic. A quiet beach was wanted. People were asked about such a beach, in the south the first beach Playa Farallón and in the north, Playa Gorgona. This northern beach was chosen.
Heading off the highway, the quiet road was followed till it turned into gravel. A couple of new condo type developments were in progress, later being told they had been broke a couple of times, each disaster providing a new owner.
Reaching the row of beach front lots and houses about 1400 it was indeed a low key affair, calling out to a guy in his yard behind gates of a house right on the beach, he came to the gate, slid it open and we introduced ourselves. Also introducing me to a Panamanian guy Bébo.
We all immediately got on, John was a character to say the least. Anyway we had a good yarn about stuff and they said stay here.
So the afternoon was spent swimming, drinking much Barcardi, relaxing in hammocks, eating and listening to the best music on a couple of speakers that you wouldn’t fit in a pickup. They were operating at the upper end of their volume people walking past on the beach were enjoying it as much as we were.
We partied on into the night. Each finding a lounge to crash on at some hour.
Such a good way to celebrate prior to reaching Panama City. Though more important was the great company, Bébo looked after the place when John was up in PC.
Johns house is on the Gorgona beach, which to the south some 3 k is Playa Coronado, a heavily urbanised tourist set up with high rise. To the south we drove down the beach to a river where guys were surfing and fishing.
All afternoon sea birds were diving for fish almost on the shore, in each group was a bunch of frigate birds who would harass the other birds who had caught fish in the hope they would drop them out of fear, which happened on many occassions.
Nearing dusk dozens of fisherman, (pescadores) in fibreglass workboats were heading past the house just behind the waves for the nights fishing with nets. I think they probably heard the music to.
The strong offshore wind made for flat conditions, interestingly here the water was cold compared to Las Lajas, a current thing maybe. It was as cold as Sapphire beach at Xmas time.